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OSCE: Tackling human trafficking, protecting the most vulnerable people in BiH

by AI | 31.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Victims often come from socially marginalized categories of the population, especially from the Roma community.

On the occasion of World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Mission to BiH organized a workshop on combating trafficking in persons whose victims are minorities, children, and persons with disabilities (Photo FENA/OSCE Mission to BiH)

Sarajevo (Fena) – In Bosnia and Herzegovina, human trafficking victims include women forced into prostitution, men who are victims of labor exploitation, and children trafficked for the purpose of begging, child marriages, or coercion into criminal activities. Victims often come from socially marginalized categories of the population, especially from the Roma community – stated the OSCE Mission to BiH.

On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Mission to BiH organized a workshop on combating human trafficking of minorities, children, and persons with disabilities. The event brought together more than 40 representatives of cantonal and entity ministries of interior, prosecutors, members of civil society organizations, and the international community in BiH.

The aim of the workshop was to discuss how to respond to the specific needs of vulnerable groups through a multi-sectoral prism, and how to improve understanding, dialogue, and cooperation among actors involved in combating human trafficking and those working on the protection of minorities, children, and persons with disabilities.

OSCE’s special representative and coordinator for combating human trafficking Kari Johnstone stated that the OSCE is proud to lead in researching the vulnerabilities of specific groups, such as women, children, minorities, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers.

The OSCE Mission to BiH has been cooperating with local partners and institutions in the fight against human trafficking since 2003.

– Our efforts are aimed at ensuring a greater level of protection and support for victims of this serious criminal offense through appropriate institutional and legislative mechanisms. Human trafficking often affects the most vulnerable members of our society, and I am confident that all participants are committed to investing efforts to do everything we can to overcome these challenges – said the head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Brian Aggeler.

This workshop is part of the broader efforts of the OSCE Mission to BiH in supporting the fight against human trafficking in BiH by strengthening the capacities of relevant institutions to detect, investigate, and prosecute such criminal offenses, as well as to provide protection and support to victims and survivors. (30.7.)